October 15, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on Me, the One they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child. They will grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zechariah 12.10)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

How we see the events of “on that Day” is determined by our faith. The what, how, why, when and where of what we believe will shape what we will see “on that Day.” We are given a checklist of events which include the measuring out of justice on those who refused to accept the witness of God through Israel. The very question of “Why Israel?” stands as a witness to the “only reasonableness” of God. In other words, no one knows the answer to that question but God. It is reasonable only to God and confounds the world who respond to the question of meaning and identity “Why not us?” Now you see the answer to that question is more a matter of position instead of function. In that regard we may well consider the dialogue between Jesus and the sons of Thunder, James and John. What most everyone desires is “to be chosen.” James and John were a part of the chosen. Jesus prays following the Last Supper in the Upper Room, “Lord, I thank You for these You have given Me.” (John 17.24) God chose. Jesus affirmed. It is clear this is the understanding as Jesus affirms Peter’s profession of faith when they had all gathered north of Caesarea Philippi in a worship retreat. It was there Jesus asked the disciples “Who do people say that I AM?” A variety of answers were elicited. (Matthew 16.13+) It was Peter, however, who spoke directly to a personal profession of faith, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus responds, “You are right when you say this, but it is not by flesh and blood that you do so. Rather, this has been revealed to you by My Heavenly Father.” Further, Jesus declares the transition of authority which is to come in Israel. It will not be like the priests in the Temple or the Gentiles in their courts. True authority will not be as those who deliver edicts, but as those who serve God in spirit, truth and service to one another.

I believe this is the essence of Zechariah 12.10 (and following). What it follows is the Age of the Church. The prophetic word given to Zechariah is pointing the people in the direction of that final coming of the Messiah to earth. The “One” who appears has been wounded and pierced for the sake of the transgressions of the people. Consider the opportunity of Thomas a full week after Jesus was raised from grave and set on earth in His doxa soma, His “glory body.” Thomas represents all those who come after the fact of Jesus’ coming into the world as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of that very world. Jesus said, after offering Thomas the opportunity to touch the nail scars and the spear puncture, “You believe because of what you have seen; greater is it for those who have not seen and yet believe.” Jesus was talking about us, the Church which exists beyond those who were witnesses to Jesus’ death and resurrection. The day is coming when we will all see Him. He will be revealed to the entire world “on that Day.” We know what the Word of God says about that, “On that day, at the declaration of the name of Jesus [that is the announcement of the presence of Jesus] every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” (Philippians 2.10-11) The mourning that will be heard in the midst of the outpouring of grace and supplication will be due to the fact of the ultimate recognition of the truth. Whatever it is that we have believed about Jesus Christ will be revealed in the “how, when, where and why” of our lives. The kind of faith we are choosing now to live will be revealed against the paradigm of “spirit and truth” by which we have worshipped and will worship God who has offered us salvation in “the name” of Jesus Christ. We will stand, kneel, bow, prostrate ourselves before Him knowing the moment of transformation from “the old Adam” to “the new in Christ” will have passed. The separation of the sheep, the people of God’s pasture, and the goats, those who chose to live in the wilderness of sin, will almost become a natural effect similar to that of “oil and water.” There will be the weeps of joy and the weep of sorrow for what has been lost and what has been reclaimed.

In this world, in this day and age, we are preparing and rehearsing for that moment in time when “on that Day” becomes TODAY. We, as the Church, are bearing witness to what we have not seen but have believed knowing the truth: our own hope for survival is Jesus Christ; our purpose for living is to worship and serve the One who has offered us life in Jesus’ name; that we will use all the gifts of the Spirit to share the fruit of the Spirit in order to build up the body of Christ as a priesthood of all believers and a community of faith who loves one another; at any time; and in any place. We are doing so because “that Day” is coming when we shall all see Him as He was, is and will forever be. The truth will be, however, where we will see it from: a distance as a chasm that can never be crossed or up close and personal. That choice is one we make every day of our lives. Let us choose wisely, faithfully, lovingly, boldly and with all humility.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit brought us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit in order that others be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind so we would know we are Your people and You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.